AQA AS HISTORY The Cold War, c1945–1991 Component 2R To the brink of Nuclear War: international relations, c1945–1963 FINAL MAY 2023

AQA AS HISTORY The Cold War, c1945–1991 Component 2R To the brink of Nuclear War: international relations, c1945–1963 Tuesday 23 May 2023 Afternoon Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes Materials For this paper you must have: • an AQA 16-page answer book. Instructions • Use black ink or black ball-point pen. • Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7041/2R. • Answer two questions. In Section A answer Question 01. In Section B answer either Question 02 or Question 03. Information • The marks for questions are shown in brackets. • The maximum mark for this paper is 50. • You will be marked on your ability to: – use good English – organise information clearly – use specialist vocabulary where appropriate. Advice • You are advised to spend about: – 50 minutes on Section A – 40 minutes on Section B. Section A Answer Question 01. Source A From an editorial in the Soviet daily newspaper, Pravda, 28 June 1950. The events in Korea reveal clearly that the imperialist warmongers will stop at nothing to achieve their expansionist goals. Truman’s statement and actions, unprecedented in international relations of the post-war period, constitute further evidence that the American ruling circles no longer confine themselves to the preparation of aggression, but have gone over to direct acts of aggression. We believe that neither the United Nations nor any other international body, has authorised the government of the USA to undertake those actions with regard to Korea and China which Truman announced yesterday. In undertaking its openly aggressive act, the American government evidently presented the United Nations with an irreversible action. 5 Source B From a radio address to the American people by President Truman, 11 April 1951. In the simplest terms what we are doing in Korea is this: we are trying to prevent a third world war. It is right for us to be in Korea. It was right last June. It is right today. The communists in the Kremlin are engaged in a monstrous conspiracy to stamp out freedom all over the world. If they were to succeed, the United States would be numbered among their principal victims. The USA cannot, and will not, sit idly by. The only question is: when is the best time to meet the threat and how? It is easier to put out a fire when it is small than after it has become a roaring blaze. 5 0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, which of these two sources is more valuable in explaining US involvement in the Korean War? [25 marks] Section B Answer either Question 02 or Question 03. Either 0 2 ‘The USA and USSR had fundamentally different aims at the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences.’ Explain why you agree or disagree with this view. [25 marks]